It promises to be an exciting experience. And there's an after-party as well. Yay!

UPDATE: Went both days as it was such fun. The highlight was indeed the ferret racing, (and the merry-go-round, which I have always loved), and afterwards we got to meet the winning ferret in the winner's enclosure. Met lots of mates, sampled the cider and posh sausages, and the weather held. Stayed with delightful friends who are wonderfully hospitable and marvellous company. We didn't make the after-party but stayed in and played guitar instead.

I have major issues with the Lambeth Country Show. Having read the full list of what's on is that what the organisers think is a true representation of 'the country'?

And is it 'the country' (i.e. The United Kingdom), or 'the countryside' (the rural aspect of the UK)?

Because if it's the former it's plainly inaccurate and if it's the latter then see the degree of accuracy for the former.

The blurb says it is "Lambeth Council’s ever popular and biggest outdoor festival" but singularly fails to answer either question as to its purpose.

I know that during the week I'm living in Lambeth but my home is in 'the countryside' and a petting zoo with WOMAD-style music is most firmly not 'the countryside'.

When 60% of London's children believe that meat comes from (i.e. originates in) supermarkets and a slightly larger percentage think that potatoes grow on trees, the Lambeth Country Show is a spectacular example of a missed opportunity.

Sorry for the rant Rachel, but I think the townies who are behind this 'Open air festival' need some focus. Or perhaps they need to drop the word 'Country' and put the pretence away.

thought it was a wry recreation of some aspects of rural country fairs - I used to go to the Royal Norfolk show every year when I was a child and it wasn't dissimilar, only there were more displays of tractors and prize winning working/meat animals at the RNS.

There were stalls explaining about milking at lambeth, the pork was explained as being from pigs kept in straw and outdoors and was sold by the pig farmers who answered questions, there were displays of falconry, and of working dogs and sheep shearing - all of which were educational as well as interesting. The ferrets were working ferrets and their jobs ( ratting, cubbing) explained. You don't need to explain sheep shearing etc to rural kids at the RNS but for city children it was useful.

It was quite commercial and I understand some smaller stalls felt priced out this year.

There was also a lot of access-the-council housing etc related stuff, and some boringly worthy stalls,so I think it was an attempt to bring some rural life into an inner city environment in an educational and amusing way.

I went with my disabled son, although the word 'Country' leaves a lot to be desired, it was still an enjoyable day out. Of particular note was a Sensory Zone with a spectacular system called OptiMusic. The OptiMusic system lets you play music by putting your hand in a beam of light, as well as triggering images, all in real time. I got some details off the guys running the system as I was so impressed!! Their website is http://www.optimusic.com